FORMER librarian Heather Robertson-Clarke can no longer read or write and is slowly losing her speech.

The Hawthorn East resident knows first-hand the effects of dementia after being diagnosed with the cruel and debilitating disease three years ago.

She is just one of thousands across Boroondara suffering from the affliction.

And the number of Boroondara residents with dementia is expected to skyrocket 170 per cent by 2050, a new study has revealed.

The figures, commissioned by Alzheimers Australia Vic, projected Boroondara residents living with dementia will balloon from 2582 today to more than 6900 in less than 40 years, placing a heavy toll on the districts medical and care services.

Alzheimers Australia Vic chief executive Maree McCabe said the prevalence of dementia would cost the nation $83 billion a year by 2050, which will exceed any other medical condition.

(The figures) really are frightening - its really important we are proactive, Ms McCabe said.

Almost 72,000 Victorians have dementia, which is expected to boom to 246,000 by 2050, according to the study by Deloitte Access Economics.

Prof David Ames, director of Parkvilles National Ageing Research Institute, said statistics revealed there would be as many Victorians with dementia in 2050 as there are Australians presently with the condition.

Ms McCabe said early detection was key.

Read more:
Dementia alarm bells in Boroondara

Hon Jo Goodhew

Associate Minister of Health

26 April 2012 Media Statement More dementia treatment available in Ashburton

More local Mid Canterbury people suffering from dementia will be cared for in their local community following an extension and refurbishment to an aged care hospital unit officially opened today by Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew.

This community investment adds another 10 bed dementia unit to the existing 12 psychogeriatric and 15 long stay hospital beds already in the Tuarangi resthome and hospital, says Mrs Goodhew.

We are living longer and sadly that also means that the number of older New Zealanders with dementia is increasing.

A loved one living with dementia is a challenge faced by many families, but there is much that we can do. These additional dedicated beds mean that local people with dementia can, if they choose, remain closer to home should they need residential care.

Providing care for individuals with dementia is a growing issue for our country. The 2010 aged residential care services review identified the most pressing need as expanding dementia units, beds and services.

The Government responded last year with an additional $44 million over four years to look after people living with dementia. This includes $40 million for residential dementia services and $4 million for respite care for full-time carers of individuals with dementia.

The Government is committed to ensuring all older people in residential care, including those with dementia, receive quality services and care.

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More dementia treatment available in Ashburton

>> MULTIMEDIA SPECIAL: Love amid loss as dementia takes hold

FRIGHTENING new statistics reveal the number of residents in the Yarra Ranges with dementia is expected to skyrocket by 298 per cent by 2050.

The figures, commissioned by Alzheimers Australia Vic, project the number of Yarra Ranges residents living with dementia will grow from 1543 to more than 6000 in less than 40 years, placing a heavy toll on the districts medical and care services.

The shock figures come as Caladenia Dementia Care in Mooroolbark campaigns for $1.7 million funding to build a dementia-specific overnight respite centre.

Manager Sarah Yeates said there was an enormous and growing need for the centre.

The care that happens in nursing homes is just not suitable for people with dementia, especially for those in the early stages, Ms Yeates said.

She said they were seeing an increasing demand for their services particularly from younger people, with their youngest patient just 34.

The community has already raised $85,000 for the project, but Ms Yeates said they were continuing to appeal for funding from state and federal governments.

Among those who will benefit from respite care is Coldstreams Gerda and Marty De Clercq (pictured).

Two-and-a-half years ago Mr De Clercq, 68, was diagnosed with dementia and his wife is his sole carer.

Go here to read the rest:
MULTIMEDIA SPECIAL: Don't forget Yarra Ranges dementia sufferers

>> MULTIMEDIA SPECIAL: Love amid loss as dementia takes hold

FRIGHTENING new statistics reveal the number of residents in the Yarra Ranges with dementia is expected to skyrocket by 298 per cent by 2050.

The figures, commissioned by Alzheimers Australia Vic, project the number of Yarra Ranges residents living with dementia will grow from 1543 to more than 6000 in less than 40 years, placing a heavy toll on the districts medical and care services.

The shock figures come as Caladenia Dementia Care in Mooroolbark campaigns for $1.7 million funding to build a dementia-specific overnight respite centre.

Manager Sarah Yeates said there was an enormous and growing need for the centre.

The care that happens in nursing homes is just not suitable for people with dementia, especially for those in the early stages, Ms Yeates said.

She said they were seeing an increasing demand for their services particularly from younger people, with their youngest patient just 34.

The community has already raised $85,000 for the project, but Ms Yeates said they were continuing to appeal for funding from state and federal governments.

Among those who will benefit from respite care is Coldstreams Gerda and Marty De Clercq (pictured).

Two-and-a-half years ago Mr De Clercq, 68, was diagnosed with dementia and his wife is his sole carer.

Go here to read the rest:
MULTIMEDIA SPECIAL: Don't forget Yarra Ranges dementia sufferers

26 April 2012 Last updated at 02:44 ET By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News

The drifting smells of a Bakewell tart, guide dogs for the mind and hi-tech wristbands could all have a future in helping people with dementia.

They are some of the winners of a competition by the Design Council and the Department of Health to develop new ideas in care.

The winners are all prototypes, but the aim is to produce them on a mass scale.

David Cameron has described dementia as a "national crisis" which affects 800,000 people in the UK.

The slow death of the brain in dementia affects memory, language and understanding. One of the problems can be forgetting to eat, which is what one of the design ideas is trying to overcome.

The "Ode" project works on the same principle as smells wafting from the kitchen making you hungry. It pumps fragrances of food into the air to whet the appetite of people who are not eating.

Lizzie Olstrom, who is part of the design team, told the BBC: "So much of appetite is about smell, the sensory anticipation of food. [Ode] uses fragrances to re-awaken appetite."

So far they have used smells of a Bakewell tart, citrus and spices. However, the tempting aroma of fish and chips has not translated so well. "Would you want vinegar and wet paper smells in the house?" she asked.

So far, she said the product had "compelling results" after being tested in homes. However, larger-scale tests will be needed to see if the product really helps people.

See the rest here:
Bakewells and dogs vs dementia

Alzheimers New Zealand urges New Zealand government to recognise dementia as the most serious health crisis to be faced this century

Alzheimers New Zealand is encouraged by the Australian federal governments recent announcement that they will be committing almost AUS $270 million to dementia and hopes this announcement will go some way toward influencing our own government to take further financial action in New Zealand.

Under an aged-care reform package the Australian government will spend a total of $269.4 million over five years, including $164.3 million to be paid as supplements to people with dementia living in aged-care facilities and at home. The remainder of the money will go toward promoting early diagnosis of the disease. However, this amount this falls short of calls by Alzheimer's Australia for a $500m investment.

This financial commitment from the Australian government coupled with the recent announcement from the UK government that they will be doubling funding for dementia research, shows how other governments are stepping up and taking action to prepare for the inevitable rise in dementia. Alzheimers New Zealand is now urging our own government to take action and recognise dementia as the most serious health crisis to be faced this century.

A report released this month by the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed the incidence of dementia is exploding in line with the rapid growth in aging populations worldwide, the most profound socio-economic phenomenon of this century. The number of people living with dementia worldwide, estimated at 35.6 million in 2010, is set to nearly double every 20 years, reaching 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050.

In New Zealand, dementia is expected to increase to epidemic proportions in the very near future due to our countrys aging population. Today there around 44,000 recorded cases of dementia, however, we expect the true figure to be significantly higher than this as only 60% of people are diagnosed, according to the World Alzheimer Report 2011. Around half of all New Zealanders with dementia live with family carers, many of whom are providing around-the-clock care with little or no government support.

Alzheimers New Zealand is now approaching the third year of its National Dementia Strategy, launched at Parliament in May 2010. The strategy establishes clear actions to better support people with dementia and their carers. The document was developed in consultation with stakeholders throughout the sector, as well as with those who face the daily challenge of living with the disease. The strategy identifies key areas needing investment including early diagnosis and management of the disease, appropriate quality services, better supports for carers who provide in-home care, and development of a skilled work-force.

The success of the National Dementia Strategy hinges on the New Zealand governments recognition of the social and economic impacts of the disease and adopting dementia as a national health priority. While the New Zealand dementia community is working towards fulfilling the action points of the strategy, the New Zealand government is yet to formally adopt it.

The New Zealand government needs to recognise dementia as a national crisis in order to adequately fund the sector and best prepare for the significant costs of dementia in the future.

Last years Budget announcement of $44m to dementia was a step in the right direction but additional funding is needed to support people living with dementia in the home, says Alzheimers New Zealand chairperson, Martin Brooks.

The rest is here:
Dementia " the most serious health crisis this century"

Alzheimers New Zealand urges New Zealand government to recognise dementia as the most serious health crisis to be faced this century

Alzheimers New Zealand is encouraged by the Australian federal governments recent announcement that they will be committing almost AUS $270 million to dementia and hopes this announcement will go some way toward influencing our own government to take further financial action in New Zealand.

Under an aged-care reform package the Australian government will spend a total of $269.4 million over five years, including $164.3 million to be paid as supplements to people with dementia living in aged-care facilities and at home. The remainder of the money will go toward promoting early diagnosis of the disease. However, this amount this falls short of calls by Alzheimer's Australia for a $500m investment.

This financial commitment from the Australian government coupled with the recent announcement from the UK government that they will be doubling funding for dementia research, shows how other governments are stepping up and taking action to prepare for the inevitable rise in dementia. Alzheimers New Zealand is now urging our own government to take action and recognise dementia as the most serious health crisis to be faced this century.

A report released this month by the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed the incidence of dementia is exploding in line with the rapid growth in aging populations worldwide, the most profound socio-economic phenomenon of this century. The number of people living with dementia worldwide, estimated at 35.6 million in 2010, is set to nearly double every 20 years, reaching 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050.

In New Zealand, dementia is expected to increase to epidemic proportions in the very near future due to our countrys aging population. Today there around 44,000 recorded cases of dementia, however, we expect the true figure to be significantly higher than this as only 60% of people are diagnosed, according to the World Alzheimer Report 2011. Around half of all New Zealanders with dementia live with family carers, many of whom are providing around-the-clock care with little or no government support.

Alzheimers New Zealand is now approaching the third year of its National Dementia Strategy, launched at Parliament in May 2010. The strategy establishes clear actions to better support people with dementia and their carers. The document was developed in consultation with stakeholders throughout the sector, as well as with those who face the daily challenge of living with the disease. The strategy identifies key areas needing investment including early diagnosis and management of the disease, appropriate quality services, better supports for carers who provide in-home care, and development of a skilled work-force.

The success of the National Dementia Strategy hinges on the New Zealand governments recognition of the social and economic impacts of the disease and adopting dementia as a national health priority. While the New Zealand dementia community is working towards fulfilling the action points of the strategy, the New Zealand government is yet to formally adopt it.

The New Zealand government needs to recognise dementia as a national crisis in order to adequately fund the sector and best prepare for the significant costs of dementia in the future.

Last years Budget announcement of $44m to dementia was a step in the right direction but additional funding is needed to support people living with dementia in the home, says Alzheimers New Zealand chairperson, Martin Brooks.

The rest is here:
Dementia " the most serious health crisis this century"

DEMENTIA will become Australias most expensive medical condition over the next 40 years, with annual costs predicted to balloon from $6 billion this year to about $83 billion by 2050.

Alzheimers Australia Vic chief executive Maree McCabe said aged care for a dementia patient cost about $21,500 each year and would increase exponentially with wages, treatment and interventions.

Governments know what we need, the time has come now to outline a funding plan for it - not for the next year or five years, but for over the next decade to 20 years, Ms McCabe said.

The Federal Government terminated The Dementia Initiative - making dementia a national health priority in its 2011-12 Budget.

Last week, the Federal Government announced $268.4 million over five years to tackle dementia.

This includes $164.3 million for people receiving home care packages and in residential care, and there will also be extra support for primary health care providers.

However this falls short of the $500 million over five years called for by Alzheimers Australia.

We need to increase our services, Ms McCabe said.

We need to raise awareness about dementia, especially when it comes to ensuring people achieve a timely diagnosis.

National Ageing Research Institute director Prof David Ames said huge advances had been made in understanding the biology of dementia, but treatments remained limited.

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DEMENTIA CARE: the cost of caring in the west